Pituitary tumor

Causes

Prolactin is a hormone that triggers the breasts to produce milk (lactation).

Prolactinoma is the most common type of pituitary tumor (adenoma). It makes up at least 30% of all pituitary adenomas.Almost allpituitary tumors are noncancerous (benign). Prolactinoma may occur as part of an inherited condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1)

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type I is disease passed down through families in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form...

Treatment

Medication is usually successful in treating prolactinoma. Surgery is done in some cases where the tumor may damage vision.

In women, treatment can improve:

Infertility

Irregular menstruation

Loss of sexual interest

Milk flow that is not due to childbirth or nursing

Men should be treated when they have:

Decreased sexual drive

Impotence

Infertility

Large prolactinomasusually must be treated to prevent vision loss.

Bromocriptine and cabergoline are drugs that reduce prolactin levels in both men and women. Some people have to take these drugsfor life, but some people can stop taking them, especially if their tumor has disappeared from the MRI. Ifyou stop taking thedrug, however, there is a risk thatthe tumor may grow and produce prolactin again, especially if it is a large tumor.

Most people respond well to these drugs. However, large prolactinomas are harder to treat. Both drugs may cause dizziness and upset stomach.

Radiotherapy is usuallyonly usedin patients with prolactinoma that continues to grow or gets worse after both medication and surgery. It may be given in the form of:

Outlook (Prognosis)

The outlook depends on the success of medicaltreatment or surgery. Getting tested to check whether the tumor has returned after treatmentis important.

Treatment for prolactinoma may change the levels of other hormones in the body, especially if surgery is performed.

High levels of estrogen or testosterone may be involved in the growth of a prolactinoma. Women with prolactinomas should be followed closely during pregnancy, and should discuss this tumor with their health care provider before taking birth control pills.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

See your health care provider if you have any symptoms of prolactinoma.

If you have had a prolactinoma in the past, call your health care provider for a general follow-up, or ifyour symptoms return.

Endocrine glands - illustration

Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the pace of chemical activity in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).

Endocrine glands

illustration

Endocrine glands - illustration

Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to secrete hormones which determine the pace of chemical activity in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).